(SitNews) Washington, D. C. - In 2016, candidate Donald J. Trump made a promise that was familiar to voters across America: He would do away with the job-killing NAFTA if elected President and replace it with a better deal for American workers, businesses, and customers.

The trade agreement, which has now been approved by both chambers of Congress with unprecedented bipartisan support, 89-10 in the Senate and 385-41 in the House, will replace the job-killing, huge failure NAFTA – fulfilling a core promise the President made to the American people. USMCA, which the President successfully negotiated over a year ago, rebalances trade between the three countries and will lead to significant economic and job growth in the United States.

Republicans and Democrats alike had long criticized NAFTA for its weak labor and environmental provisions, among other flaws. Many promised to scrap it and push for new negotiations with Canada and Mexico. “NAFTA’s shortcomings were evident when signed and we must now amend the agreement to fix them,” then-candidate Barack Obama pledged in 2008, the year he was elected President.

This new agreement is a landmark victory for American working- and middle-class families. The U.S. International Trade Commission estimates that within 5 years, USMCA could add up to $235 billion in new economic growth - and 589,000 jobs - to the U.S. economy. Just as important, the deal will put in place the strongest and most comprehensive labor protections of any trade agreement in American history.

The President keeps delivering on his signature campaign promises. Just last week, he joined the Vice Premier of China to sign a historic Phase 1 deal that addresses Beijing’s unfair trade practices, including intellectual property theft.

Last week, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) voted in support of USMCA, a trade pact which modernizes the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

“As an economy that depends on exporting our rich natural resources to global markets and leveraging our geostrategic location as a significant hub for the global air cargo industry, Alaska relies on strong international frameworks for free trade,” said Senator Murkowski.

 “Fair trade with Mexico and Canada supports millions of American jobs. The USMCA is a pro-growth trade pact that will deliver trade certainty, create new jobs, and increase economic development here in the U.S. It has the potential to benefit all of America, including Alaska, and to enable our nation to provide needed goods and services competitively for our largest trade partners. I was happy to support the President’s USMCA and look forward to more agreements that strengthen international trade and boost our economy,” said Murkowski.

U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) released a prepared statement last Thursday after voting in support of the USMCA trade deal, which he says has significant benefits for Alaska.

“On the heels of the signing of the first phase of the U.S.-China trade agreement - which contained positive news for Alaska fishermen - the Senate [Thursday] passed yet another critical trade agreement, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, with even more positive news for Alaska."

Sullivan said, "The USMCA, which constitutes an updated NAFTA, is the most significant change to North American trade policy in nearly 30 years. It will strengthen our country’s farmers, manufacturers, small businesses and, importantly, Alaska fishermen. Because of a provision I was able to get signed into law in 2016 mandating that fisheries be a principal negotiating objective in all future trade agreements, the USMCA features an entire chapter on fisheries, including phasing out subsidies, combatting illegal fishing, prohibitions on certain vessels and operations, and reducing and removing tariffs.”

When the USMCA passed the House December 19m 2019, Congressman Don Young (R-AK) said in a prepared statement, “It is undeniable that our nation’s economy is incredibly strong. Rising wages paired with record unemployment is good news for American families, but to truly keep this momentum going we must ensure that our global trade policies are working. Today’s world in 2019 looks very different than the world did in 1994. Simply put, our global way of life has changed, and our trade policy must keep pace. Over a year ago, President Trump joined leaders from Mexico and Canada and signed an agreement for the USMCA, and I am pleased to see the House finally act to implement this important trade deal."

Young said, "President Trump and his Administration have negotiated a good trade agreement. USMCA is estimated to create more than 175,000 jobs and raise GDP by almost $70 billion – outcomes that Republicans and Democrats alike can support. Very crucially, USMCA will strengthen the bonds between the United States, Mexico, and Canada, and give our country the credibility to negotiate similar trade deals with other nations. I am grateful to President Trump and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer for their hard work on behalf of our country, and to Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle for recognizing the need to update our trade policy. I call on the governments of Canada and Mexico to swiftly ratify USMCA. I am confident that if our countries work together in good faith, we can create good jobs and secure strong economies for years to come.”

In 2018 alone, Alaska exported $680 million of goods to Canada and Mexico.

The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act (USMCA) passed by the Senate now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law.

Source of News:

White House Press Secretary
www.whitehouse.gov

Office of U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski
www.murkowski.senate.gov

Office of U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan
www.sullivan.senate.gov

Office of Congressman Don Young
www.donyoung.house.gov

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